Coin-operated ball separating and dispensing device



P 9 w. F. CONNELLY ETAI- 3,466,036 I COIN-OPERATED.BALL SEPARATING AND DISPENSING DIS-VICE Filed Nov. 9, 1966 4 Sheets-Shem. 1

6 FIG.

By PAUL KOTLER 64.1 (m

ATTORNEY w. F. CONNELLY ET AL 3, 66,036

COIN-OPERATED BALL SEPARATING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/L/AM CONNELL r INVENTOEZ'Y PAUL [(OTLER (AA fwfi ATTORNEY Sept. 1969 w. F. CONNELLY ET AL 3,466,036

COIN-OPERATED BALL SEPARATING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

FIG. 3

. WILL/AM CONN'ELL Y MENTOR PAUL KOTLER ATTORNEY p 9, 1969 w. F. CONNELLY ETAL 3, 66,036

COIN-OPERATED BALL S EPARATING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 vs I Na 2 2 a 2 R R r// v 2. 3 vw (1| 2 N|N\ MN 9w WILL IAM CONNELL Y ATTORNEY nited States Patent Filed Nov. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 593,074 Int. Cl. A63d 15/00 US. Cl. 27311 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to game tables, and more particularly, to coin-operated billiard tables wherein a player can obtain all game balls or selected game balls at will and is embodied within a coin-operated game table having a ball control mechanism. The mechanism includes means for aligning the playing balls in an adjacent pattern and two separate ball releasing systems that are actuated and operated independent of each other The first releasing system, upon actuation, releases all of the balls in the pattern for play purposes. The second releasing system is located under a particular ball in the pattern and includes an aperture, aperture closure plate and isolating device. Upon actuation, the aperture closure plate is dis-placed opening the aperture and allowing a single ball to be released. The isolating device isolates the rest of the balls in the pattern from the aperture.

This invention relates to game tables commonly known as billiard tables and more particularly, to a device for selectively returning a game ball on a coin-operated billiard table.

The game of billiards or pocket billiards is a well-known game played on a horizontal, rectangular-shaped table having a pocket in each corner of the table and two inrtermediary side pockets; one of which is located midway between the corner pockets on the longer sides of the table.

The game is played with 15 numbered object or playing balls, a 16th ball known as a cue ball or cue, and a cue stick. The object of the game is to drive or propel the cue ball or cue with the cue stick into contact with one of the numbered playing balls and thereby drive or propel the latter into one of the pockets. A point is scored for each ball pocketed. The Winner is the 1st person to score a point.

During the course of a game, the cue ball or the combination of the cue ball and a numbered ball other than the intended numbered ball may be driven by accident into a pocket. This is known as a scratch and an appropriate penalty is provided; in particular, the player is penalized at least one point and must replace at least one playing ball on the table.

Other games can be played on the table but the above described game is sufiicient for the explanation of the invention.

At present, there is considerable interest in coin-Operated game tables. Upon the insertion of the proper amount of coins in an appropriate receptacle, all of the balls are released for playing. As each playing ball is driven into a pocket, it is caught in a trap and collected with the other numbered balls until all 15 numbered balls have been pocketed. If the game has not ended sooner, this ends the game. The balls may be obtained for a new game by the insertion of the proper amount of coins.

Mechanisms that provide the above function are known in the prior art. However, the mechanisms that perform the above function do not release single playing balls or playing balls one at a time. They only release all the balls, in concert. Therefore, the normal game of pocket billiards cannot be played on a coin-operated table having a mechanism as described above, unless the rules are modified. Since the normal table makes no provision for the return of a single playing ball when a scratch or mistake has been made, it is impossible to strictly comply with the penalty rule previously described. This has resulted in a lessening of popularity in coin-operated tables because they cannot be used for the well known games of pocket billiards and similar games without changing the rules.

The invention is embodied within a coin-operated table that is not subject to the above described disadvantages. Provision is made not only to release all the balls for playing purposes, but also to release single object or playing balls, or balls one at a time so that the normal rules of pocket billiards can be followed, Thus when a player scratches, he can obtain and replace on the table one object ball at a time by proper operation of the table, and comply with the rules of the game.

The invention will be better understood, its features and advantages more readily apparent upon the study of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coin-operated game table;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the ball control mechanism embodying the invention showing the same in an unoperated position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG- URE 2 showing the same in an operated position, and

FIG. 4 is an end section view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

The invention is embodied in a device that is mounted within a game table '10. The table 10 includes six pockets 11; one being located in each corner of the table 10 and one of the remaining two pockets 11 being located in between the corner pockets 11 on each of the two long sides of the tabe 10. The table further includes an opening 21 where the playing balls are extracted.

The table 10 includes a ball control mechanism 12. The mechanism 12 is coin-operated and its function is to dispense or release all of the playing balls and to collect them.

The mechanism 12 is connected to the various pockets 11 and the opening 21 by means of troughs, guides and tunnels that are not shown. The mechanism 12 includes a ball collector tray 13. The latter is generally U-shaped in cross section having a front upright surface 14 and a rear upright surface 15. The tray 13 is wider at one end than at the other end. An upright support 16 is rigidly attached to the tray 13 at its wide end. The support 16 partially closes the Wide end of the tray 13 and also leaves an open portion 17. The open portion 17 is connected to the opening 21 in the table 10. A portion of a trough 44 is shown.

The narrow end of the tray 13 includes a support 19 and an open portion 20. The open portion. 17 is adjacent to the rear upright surface 15 and the open portion 20 is adjacent to the front upright surface 14. A ball stop 18 is attached to the support 16 and the surface 14.

The open portion 20 is interconnected with all of the pockets 11 by means of the previously mentioned troughs, guides and tunnels. A ramp 45 receives the balls from the troughs and guides them into the portion 20. When a ball falls into any one of the pockets 11, it is guided to the open portion 20 of the tray 13 by means of the troughs and the ramp 45.

The tray 13 is mounted in the table 10 such that the wide end of the tray 13 is lower than the narrow end of the tray 13 and with the rear upright surface 15 lower than the front upright surface 14. Thus, the lowest part of the tray 13 with respect to the horizontal playing surface of the table is the open portion 17 and the highest part of the tray 13 is the open portion 20.

The tray 13 further includes a ball trap 22. The latter is pivotably mounted upon the tray 13 between the supports 16 and 19. The trap 22 is generally U-shaped in cross section having a front guiding edge 23 and a rear trap edge 24.

The trap 22 is mounted upon two axles so that it can be partially rotated back and forth about its longitudinal axis. When the trap 22 is rotated toward the front upright surface 14 the guide edge 23 is lowered toward the bottom of the tray 13 and the rear trap edge 24 is raised away from the bottom of the tray 13. Reversal of the direction of rotation, that is rotation away from the surface 14, results in movement of the edges 23 and 24 opposite to that previously described.

The trap 22 is mounted upon the tray 13 so that when the trap 22 is rotated toward the front surface 14, the vertical distance between the edge 23 and the bottom of the tray 13 is less than the diameter of the playing balls. When the trap 22 is positioned as described above, the vertical distance between the edge 24 and the bottom of the tray 13 is greater than the diameter of the playing balls. Rotation of the trap 22 toward the rear upright surface results in a vertical distance between the edge 23 and the bottom of the tray 13 greater than the diameter of the playing balls and a vertical distance between the edge 24 and the bottom of the tray 13 less than the diameter of the playing balls.

An operating lever 25 is attached to the trap 22 adjacent to the rear edge 24. The trap 22 is rotated back and forth by means of the lever 25. A bias spring 26 urges the lever 25 in a direction toward the front surface 14. This holds the trap 22 in a position known as the normal or unoperated position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in which the playing balls cannot pass between the edge 23 and the bottom of the tray 13.

The mechanism 12 further includes a 1st coin-plunger 27. The coin-plunger 27 is well known in the art and includes a plunger having an appropriate size opening or openings to correspond to the shape of the coin or coins intended to operate the device. The plunger 27 cannot be fully depressed without the inserting of a specific coin or coins in the openings.

A bearing 28 and a limit lug 29 are located on one end of the plunger 27. The bearing 28 and lug 29 are slightly displaced from each other so that the operating lever 25 of the trap 22 can fit between them.

When the plunger 27 is depressed, the bearing 28 contacts the lever 25 and rotates the trap 22 away from the front upright surface 14 toward the rear upright surface 15. Rotation is continued until the lever 25 comes in contact with the lug 29. This prevents further rotation of the trap 22 and further depression of plunger 27. The bias spring 26 then rotates the trap 22 in the opposite direction back to the normal or unoperated position.

The trap is normally in the unoperated position and remains there during the playing of a game. As each ball is driven into a pocket 11, it is channeled to the ball control mechanism 12 where it is introduced into the tray 13 through the open portion 20. Since the diameter of the ball is greater than the vertical distance between the tray 13 and the edge 23, the ball is contained between the edge 23 and the upright surface 14. A ball is shown in phantom in FIG. 3 to indicate general dimensional proportions. The ball rolls toward the ball stop 18 because the wide end of the tray 13 is lower than the narrow end. The balls are lined up by the edge 23 and the surface 14 and remain in the above-described position until all of the playing balls have been collected in the front part of the tray 13 of the ball control mechanism 12.

Upon insertion of a coin, the plunger 27 is depressed causing the trap 22 to rotate. The edge 23 is raised and the edge 24 is lowered. Since the tray 13 slopes downward toward the rear upright surface 15 and towards the open portion 17, the balls roll under the edge 23 of the trap 22 toward the portion 17 until they come in contact with the edge 24. Edge 24 traps the balls and prevents them from rolling straight through the trap 22.

When the plunger 27 is released, the spring 26 rotates the trap 22 back toward the surface 14 which lowers edge 23 and raises edge 24 thereby releasing the balls. The balls then proceed through the portion 17, through the troughs and guides and into the opening 21 where they are extracted and placed upon the top of the table 10 for playing purposes.

The two stage action of the trap 22 prevents the playing balls from running continuously through the mechanism 12 as the result of a single opening of the trap 22 with a single depression of the plunger 27 The plunger 27 must be depressed and released to obtain the playing balls.

The action of the ball control mechanism 12 releases all of the playing balls but does not provide for the release of single playing balls or one ball at a time. Because of the rules of the games played on tables similar to the one described herein, it is desirable to be able to release one playing ball at a time so that the normal rules of the game can be followed without deviation or modification.

In order to provide for the feature of obtaining single balls, an aperture 30 is cut in the tray 13 near the ball stop 18. The aperture 30 is slightly larger in size than the diameter of the playing balls and is located so that it is directly underneath any playing ball that is in contact with the stop 18.

An elongated plate 31 is mounted on the under side of the tray 13. One end of the plate 31 is attached to the tray 13 by means of a pivot 32; another end of the plate 31 fits into a guide 33.

The plate 31 in its unoperated position substantially covers the aperture 30 and prevents any playing balls from going through the aperture 30. The plate 31 is held in its unoperated position by means of a spring 34. The latter is attached to the plate 31 adjacent to the guide 33. The function of the guide 33 is to maintain the plate 31 in a position adjacent to the bottom of the tray 13.

The plate 31 further includes a ball block 35. The latter is a tab that extends upward from the plate 31 through the aperture 30. When the plate 31 is in its unoperated position as shown in FIG. 2, the block 35 is located adjacent to the front upright surface 14. The purpose and function of the block 35 will be subsequently described.

The plate 31 is operated by a second coin-plunger 36. The plunger 36 is operatively connected to the plate 31 by means of a cable 37. The cable 37 also includes a sheath 42. The second coin-plunger 36 is mounted in the table 10 next to the first coin-plunger 27 and includes the same general structure and features. A bearing 38 is mounted on one end of the plunger 36.

Immediately to the rear of the plunger 36 is an upright column 39. The column 39 includes a stationary sheath anchor 40 and a center-mounted lever 41. The lever 41 is attached to the column 39 on an axle and provides a direction reversing function.

One end of the cable 37 is attached to one end of the lever 41 and the other end of the cable 37 is attached to the plate 31. One end of the sheath 42 is mechanically grounded or anchored to the sheath anchor 40. The lever 41 is mounted upon the column 39 near the bearing 38 on the plunger 36. When the plunger 36 is depressed, the bearing is brought into contact with the end of the lever 41 distant from the end where the cable 37 is attached. Thus, when the plunger 36 is pushed, the cable 37 is pulled because of the reversal of direction caused by the centermounted lever 41 and the grounding of the sheath 42 to the stationary sheath anchor 40.

A second stationary sheath anchor 43 is located on the under side of the tray 13. The other end of the sheath 42 is mechanically grounded, or anchored, to the anchor 43.

When the cable 37 is pulled the plate 31 is rotated on the pivot 32 away from the aperture 30. The plate 31 is moved in a direction away from the front surface 14 toward the back surface 15. Any playing ball located in the tray 13 next to the stop 18 falls through the aperture 30 and is transported to the opening 21 in the table by means of guides, troughs and other similar devices.

As the plate 31 is moved away from the aperture 30 toward the rear surface 15, the ball block 35 is also moved away from the front surface 14 toward the rear surface 15. When the plate 31 is moved a sutficient distance to allow a single ball to drop through the aperture 30, the block 35 is located approximately midway between the front guide edge 23 of the trap 22 and the front surface 14. The ball block 35 then prevents any other balls from rolling toward and through the aperture 30. Thus only one playing ball at a time is dropped through the aperture 30 for each depression of the plunger 36. In order to get a. second playing ball past the block 35 and over the aperture 30, the plunger 36 must be depressed and released. The spring 34 then returns the plate 31 to its unoperated position which allows one more ball to roll past the block 35.

The ball control mechanism 12 described above provides for the playing of the normal game of pocket billiards without modifying the playing rules. All of the playing balls are released through the operation of the ball trap 22. The operation is initiated by the first coin plunger 27 and has been previously described.

When a player scratches or makes a mistake, he is penalized one point and obtains a single ball, or as the case may be, one ball at a time, by operating the second coin-plunger 36. This allows the player to replace a single 7 ball on the table 10, the latter having been obtained through the aperture 30 as previously described.

If the cue ball is scratched, provision is made to return it directly without depressing the plunger 36. The ramp 45 has an arch 46 extending over its top. An ejector spring 47 is hooked underneath the arch 46. A slightly larger ball than the playing or object balls is used as a cue ball. The distance between the bottom of the ramp 45 and the bottom of this spring 47 is just enough to allow the playing or object balls to pass by without interference. Since the cue ball is slightly larger in diameter, it hits the ejector spring 47 which urges it through the opening 48. From there it is transported to the opening 21.

The ball control mechanism 12 detects the larger size ball and automatically ejects it unless the tray 13 contains all of the playing balls. At this juncture the fifteenth ball partially blocks the opening 48 and locks the cue ball in the ball control mechanism 12. It cannot be obtained without releasing all of the balls.

Though one embodiment of the invention is shown, it is obvious that numerous modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art. For example, the device has been illustrated using purely mechanical components. Obviously, different kinds of mechanical component, electrical component, electromechanical components and others can be used to accomplish the same purposes. Such changes and modifications are within the skill of the art, this specification and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a game table and ball control means, said table including ball dispensing means; said control means adapted to receive a plurality of playing balls from said table, said control means comprising ball collecting means and a first releasing means, said collecting means shaped to align said playing balls adjacent each other in a predetermined pattern, said first releasing means being operatively connected and responsive to a first actuating means, said first releasing means adapted to release all of said ball in said pattern in said collecting means to said dispensing means upon operation of said first actuat ing means, said control means further including a second releasing means and a second actuating means, said last mentioned releasing means operatively connected and responsive to said second actuating means, said second releasing means including ball isolating means, said second releasing means comprising an aperture in said. ball collecting means and a closure plate, said aperture being located under and in vertical alignment with a particular ball in said pattern, said closure plate being movable .with respect to said aperture, said plate in one instance covering a portion of said aperture to prevent passage of said particular ball through said aperture, said plate operatively connected and responsive to said second actuating means, said plate movable away from said aperture upon operation of said second actuating means and releasing said particular ball to said dispensing means, said ball isolating means mounted upon said plate, said isolating means adapted to isolate said particular ball from the rest of said balls and the rest of said balls from said aperture until said second actuating means is completely operated.

2. The combination of a game table and ball control means, said table including ball dispensing means, said control means operatively connected to said table and said dispensing means and adapted to receive a plurality of playing balls from said table, said control means comprising ball collecting means and a releasing means, said releasing means being operatively connected and responsive to an actuating means, said releasing means adapted to release all of said balls in said collecting means to said dispensing means upon operating of said actuating means, said collecting means being shaped to align said playing balls adjacent to each other in a straight line pattern and including an aperture and a closure plate, said aperture being larger in size than the diameter of said playing balls and located under a particular ball in said pattern, said closure plate located adjacent said aperture and closing said aperture to a size smaller than the diameter of said balls, said collecting means further including a coin operated plunger, said plunger operatively connected to said closure plate and adapted to move said plate away from said aperture when said plunger is depressed and allow said particular ball to pass through said aperture and adapted to move said plate into said aperture when said plunger is released, said plate further including ball isolating means, said last mentioned means isblating said particular ball from the rest of said balls when said plunger is depressed and the rest of said balls from said aperture until said plunger is;released.

3. The combination described in claim 2 wherein said collecting means comprises a tray, said releasing means comprising a U-shaped member having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge cooperating with said tray to align said playing balls in said tray in a. straight line, said aperture being located in said tray under a particular ball in said line.

4. The combination set forth in claim S Wherein said isolating means comprises a lug that extends from said plate through said aperture, said lug moving with said plate, said lug being located away from said, line of balls when said plate is in said aperture and located in said line of balls when said plate is moved away from said aperture, said lug allowing only said particular ball to fall through said aperture when said aperture is opened.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said tray includes a ball entrance portion and a ball exit portion, said U-shaped member being mounted upon said tray between said entrance portion and said exit portion, said member being partially rotatable with respect to said tray in a first direction and a second direction, said first edge aligning said balls in a straight line pattern when said member is rotated in said first direction, said balls passing said first edge and collecting against said second edge when. said member is rotated in said second direction, said balls passing said second edge toward said 7 8 exit portion when said member is rotated back in said 2,136,060 11/1938 Shyvers. first dlrectwn- 3,084,936 4/1963 Sikes 273-11 6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes means for detecting the presence of a cue ball and means for releasing said cue ball directly to said dispensing means without said cue ball going 5 ANTON OECHSLE Pnmary Exammer through Said tray- THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 670,629 3/1901 Bonn 124-50X 1,778,952 10/1930 McCullough 124-50X 3,115,341 12/1963 Feddick et a1. 273-11 US. Cl. X.R. 10 273 125 

